Re: Which Water of Life Did You Purchase Today?

I love the Bere Barley 2006. It's the best young (<10 years) Scotch I've ever had. Very grassy and malty. At that age you're tasting a ton of the distillate itself without much cask influence and Bruichladdich put something really great together here.

The one spot I got my first bottle from sold out before I could bunker up. I read on the K&L blog about how there wasn't any more coming through the distribution pipeline so I went online to get a few backups. I think it was a 7,000 bottle release. The story of the barley itself is a neat little bit as well. From their website:

BERE - GRAMINEAE, HORDEUM VULGARE - IS ONE OF THE WORLD'S OLDEST CULTIVATED CEREALS.
IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THIS IS THE BARLEY THAT PRODUCED THE ORIGINAL “USQUE-BAUGH”, THE WATER OF LIFE. IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE THAT THIS GRAIN, AND THE KNOWLEDGE OF HOW TO DISTIL IT, WAS CARRIED TO THE HEBRIDES BY NORSE INVADERS IN THE 9TH CENTURY FROM ITS ANCIENT ORIGINS IN THE "FERTILE CRESCENT" OF MESOPOTAMIA.
1,200 YEARS OF DISTILLING HISTORY IN A BOTTLE?

Re: Which Water of Life Did You Purchase Today?

Slowly trying to expand my whisky experience. After spending some time in the Highlands recently , with a much enjoyed detour to the Old Country that past couple of weeks, I decided to drift over to Islay. Picked up a Bowmore 15 "Darkest" (I rather like the sherry influence in other drams) and a Laphroaig 18 for what seemed like a decent price.

Once I work my way through Islay (already have a couple of Kilchoman bottling's) I may expand to the rest of the island offerings, in addition to the Talisker I already have, as my next destination.

Oh, and recommendations for choices from the different Islay distilleries are happily considered. Especially if available in Atlanta. I have only seen Coal Ila 12 for example and even though it is from the evil empire (along with Lagavulin I think) I will happily try them all!

Leaning towards Ardbeg Corryvreckan and Lagavulin 16 next.

Last edited by tanstaafl2; 03-23-2013 at 12:29.

That yella whiskey runnin' down my throat like honey dew vine water and I took another slash…